[Self-help meets science: Patient participation in guideline development].

This article describes the development and current state of collective self-help in Germany, which is unique in Europe. It has received high recognition from both our society and the state, e. g.

[Involving patients in research].

Politics advocate the integration of patients in decision making processes as a means of individual participation. Patients' participation in research projects is a next step to fulfil this democratic goal.Concepts essential for rehabilitation are introduced that are germane in the context of participatory rehabilitation research.

[Evidence-based therapy of depression: S3 guidelines on unipolar depression].

Unipolar depressive disorders are among the most frequent reasons for utilizing the health care system. Although efficacious treatments are available and further advances have recently been made there is still a need for improving diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Alignment of treatment on evidence-based treatment guidelines establishes an essential mainstay.

[Utilization of self-help groups and psychotherapy after psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic in-patient treatment].

Until now little is known about the role of participation in self-help groups alone or combined with psychotherapy in post-in-patient care. In the present study 2933 patients were questioned about their experience of self-help groups and psychotherapy after discharge from a clinic for psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy. Nearly 8 % of them utilized self-help groups (mostly combined with out-patient psychotherapy), and altogether 68 % out-patient psychotherapy following in-patient treatment.